Misfits Mid-Life Crisis Adventures in ………….. Surrey, Croydon and Central London,

Week 62 (or Week 25 of the new adventure), Saturday 22nd August until Friday 28th August 2015.

Last Saturday might have been the last really hot day this year in London, this summer in the UK has generally been considered a bad one.  They were saying that temps could reach 30c, I’m not sure what the temp was in the end but it was a very hot day.  Because we went out quite late in the afternoon I didn’t surprisingly use any sun cream.

 She was large, honest.

MOZ and I were on a mission to walk along Regent Canal from Angel and Hertford Union Canal to Stratford.   Regent Canal was so busy plenty of boats moving around or moored with people having BBQ’s and drinking generally having fun on the water, I even saw a couple of dinghy’s with people paddling and drinking as they bobbed on the water.  The small number of restaurants and café were doing a roaring trade.  There were people on balconies of expensive tower blocks, or just sitting at the end of a garden which stopped at the canal enjoying a Saturday afternoon by the water in the middle of “London Village”.

 I have to tape one headphone to my ear when out on the bike.

MOZ and I made our way along the towpath (I think it’s called that) which had plenty of foot traffic.  But there was a problem, a pest you might call it.  It wasn’t the midges or other flying beasties that had come out to enjoy the sunshine.  It was the cyclists.  I am a cyclist and I support and encourage the fact that people want to use peddle power.  But speeding along a thin strip of concrete while people some with buggies, children others walking dogs, people in wheelchairs is really not a good idea. Especially when you consider there is a steep drop into the canal next to you.  They were everywhere most of the time in groups of two or three, most of them just expecting that you move out of their way.  You couldn’t relax you were looking over your shoulder to see if another was coming.  Most of them would ring there pathetic tinny bells to warn you there coming, others would rudely make noises almost hissing sounds at you.  There were a couple of occasions when I really thought someone was going for a swim.  When we got to one of the numerous low bridges that’s where there could be a backlog of people and bikes.

 Menace.

They were really annoying, I should point out they are allowed to be there, they were not doing anything wrong but there is just not the space for all of us.  If I were major of London I’d deffo ban bikes from the canal towpaths.

Walking past the boats did make me wonder what it would be like to live on one.  Some you could see inside and there is not a lot of room and certainly no space for a hoarder.  There was one boat that had sunk, I later looked it up, the owner has lost pretty much everything he doesn’t know why it’s gone down, he thinks it was hit by another boat he is raising (no pun intended) money to re-float his home.  Walking past them I had this glamorous impression of living on a boat, moving your home when you needed or wanted. But I suspect living in one on a sunny summers day is totally different to a rainy or snowy winters day.

 Canal Art.

All along the way there was a lot of graffiti, some just squiggles, others were works of art.  I had to stop and admire taking lots of pictures.  I can draw and paint I’ve always been a creative person but painting with a spray can is something I have never done, I’ll leave that to the experts.

 Canal Cat.

There is plenty of life along the canal, apart from excited Dogs one of which was called “Ziggy” a Dalmatian, there were Swans and Signets, Geese, Ducks, Moorhens even a couple of Cats one of which was sitting relaxed on the top of “his” boat.

 “Ziggy”, a lovely puppy.

The Hertford Union canal section was so much quieter, very few people and not one boat travelling.  Definitely a nicer and more relaxing walk we turned a corner and there was the Olympic stadium our 3^rd visit in recent months.

 MOZ being papped.

A nice walk along one of London’s many waterways; I want to walk more of Regent canal from Little Venice to Angel next time.

 I covered up the camera while being remotely fiddled with.

In other news.  Have been home alone this week. Had problems with my computer contacted the anti-virus software customer services who sorted it out quickly, it was very strange watching them control the computer remotely (I did cover the camera up, you never know). Putting cold water instead of hot in my coffee, I still drank it. A few boxes of sample biscuits arrived at work, they were gone in seconds, see council officers are badly paid and haven’t eaten in a long time. Lots of cycling in rain, resulting very wet trainers. Went to my storage, its all still there. Went to pub with Jill and Colin and others from work. Getting a mention on LBC after texting Nick Abbot to wish him a happy b’day

 Wet cycling gear at work.

The Mid Life Crisis Conts……

This week I have been watching: “Witnesess”, (esp 4), “Partners In Crime”, (eps 5), “The Great British Bake Off”, (Season 6, eps 4), “The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice”, (Season 2, eps 4), “Ripper Street”, (Season 3, eps 5), “Mountain Goats”, (Season 1, eps 2), “Continuum”, (Season 3, eps 2 & 3), “The Scandalous Lady W”, “Top Coppers”, (eps 1), “Building the Ancients City: Athens and Rome”, “Star Trek: Enterprise”, (Season 4, eps 13), “Goodness Gracious Me: India Special 2015”, “Sean Connery: In His Own Woods”, “Comedy Feeds: Dead Air”, (eps 1, 2015), “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”, (2004).

This week I have mainly been listening to: “Morrissey”, “Chvrches “, “Everything is Everything”, “Foo Fighters”, “Stones Roses”, Joy Division”, The Bees”, “Jake Bugg”.

Reading on Kindle……“A Game of Thrones, A Song of Ice and Fire” book 2 “ A Clash of Kings” by George R.R. Martin.